Teenager behind axe attack on German train ‘acted alone’

A still image taken from an undated video posted on The Aamaq news agency, which is affiliated to the Islamic State group, purports to show the 17-year-old Afghan.

A 17-year-old Afghan asylum seeker who launched an axe and knife attack on passengers on a train in Germany is believed to have acted alone.

Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said it appears the teenager, who was shot and killed by police after injuring five people in the attack on Monday night, was radicalised by watching online propaganda.

Mr De Maiziere said a video of the suspect that was posted by the Islamic State group is authentic, and seems to be a “classic farewell video of a suicide attacker”.

He added that it is not clear when the video was made.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Wuerzburg, southern Germany.